Derrick Maxwell, a chemistry BS alumnus who went on to found Amel Energy (formerly, Propriety Inc.). He is incubating his company in IALS. Through Amel, he is working to develop nontoxic, sustainable alternatives to replace the toxic solvents and PFAS “forever chemicals” used in battery manufacturing today. Lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous in sectors ranging from consumer electronics to transportation to energy storage across the grid.